Hauptverwaltungsgebäude THS / Nordstern

After the decision to convert the former pit Nordstern into the Treuhandstelle der Bergmannsstätten (miners´ houses trust; THS) HQ had been taken, the objective was to preserve the pit buildings ensemble in special consideration of its significance as an industrial monument.
Outstanding elements like the screening plant and the cart loop and the mine shafts Nordstern ½ were to be preserved as an ensemble and the huge cubic structures put to a new use. The annexes by Fritz Schupp from the 1950s were complemented by high-quality extensions and fittings and now present themselves as an urbanistically and architecturally excellent ensemble.
The former warehouse is the “heart” of the complex. After having been gutted, with the exception of the main frame, it was converted into the central hall.
The HQ’s special rooms are mainly found on the ground floor. The casino has a terrace at the southern inner courtyard at the foot of the open strut frame. The proximity to the shaft frame and the open hall with the cafe in front associate it with its former use as a pit in an rather attractive manner. A central lecture and meeting room is found inside the building at the northern inner courtyard.
Around the central hall, on the upper floors we mainly find group or combined offices.
Schupp’s’ ideas in terms of new operational requirements are taken account of by demolition and extension. Nonetheless, the identity of the place was kept by preserving important parts of the building – in the interest of a preservation of ensembles and monuments.

Awards:
Architekturpreis für vorbildliche Gewerbebauten (Hypo Real Estate / BDA ) 2004, Preisträger
Deutscher Architekturpreis 2005 (E.ON Ruhrgas AG), Auszeichnung

Author: Wolfgang Roters (MAI) /editorial baukunst-nrw
Last changed on 22.08.2007

Categories:
Engineering » Energy
Architecture » Commercial Buildings » Offices